Opening a Yarn Shop: From 9-to-5 to Brick & Mortar Business Owner | Heather Burns (The Knotty Sheep) on Fiber Arts & Community

Have you ever fantasized about quitting your job to open a cozy yarn shop in your hometown? For Heather Burns, owner of The Knotty Sheep, that dream became a reality.

In this episode of Simply Hooked, we go behind the scenes of a brick-and-mortar fiber arts business. Heather shares how she left her 9-to-5 career to build a thriving community hub in Wake Forest, NC.

In this episode, we share:

• The Leap: What it actually takes to leave a traditional career and sign a lease.

• Shop Talk: The biggest challenges (and wins) of running a physical retail store.

• Community First: Why the secret to a successful Local Yarn Shop (LYS) isn't just the yarn—it's the people.

• Advice for Dreamers: Practical tips for makers who want to turn their knitting or crochet passion into a full-time career.

Grab your current WIP and a cozy drink—this is your invitation to explore the business side of the yarn world.

🌟 Where to Find Heather & The Knotty Sheep:

📍 Visit in downtown Wake Forest, NC at 214 East Jones St.

📲 Follow on Instagram & Facebook @knottysheepnc

💻 Shop online at theknottysheepnc.com

🚀 Learn more about the John C. Campbell Folk School that Heather mentions.

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!